In-flight recovery of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). A towline may be deployed by a host aircraft in-flight in order to recover a target UAV that is also in-flight. A reel on the host aircraft may pay out the towline having a fitting thereon. A catch on the target UAV may engage with the fitting on the towline, and the reel may then retract the towline to thereby pull in the target UAV to the host aircraft. The target UAV may then securely attach with the host aircraft.

A propellant-handling module for installation in a host aircraft comprises: a motorised drum unit comprising a line and drogue for engagement with a propellant supply line of a propellant supply aircraft and for drawing the propellant supply line from the propellant supply aircraft to the host aircraft when the propellant supply aircraft is located behind the host aircraft; a propellant inlet configured for connection with the propellant supply line; a propellant outlet in communication with the propellant inlet and configured for connection with a propellant system of the host aircraft; an electrical power unit for powering the propellant-handling module; and a communication and control system for receiving a deploy command signal and a return command signal from the supply aircraft and configured to: receive said deploy command signal and in response control the motorised drum unit to deploy the line and drogue for said engagement with the propellant supply line; and receive said return command signal and in response control the motorised drum unit to return the line and drogue to the host aircraft in said engagement with the propellant supply line for drawing the propellant supply line from the propellant supply aircraft to the host aircraft when the propellant supply aircraft is located behind the host aircraft.

A propellant-handling module for installation in a host aircraft comprises: a motorised drum unit comprising a line and drogue for engagement with a propellant supply line of a propellant supply aircraft and for drawing the propellant supply line from the propellant supply aircraft to the host aircraft when the propellant supply aircraft is located behind the host aircraft; a propellant inlet configured for connection with the propellant supply line; a propellant outlet in communication with the propellant inlet and configured for connection with a propellant system of the host aircraft; an electrical power unit for powering the propellant-handling module; and a communication and control system for receiving a deploy command signal and a return command signal from the supply aircraft and configured to: receive said deploy command signal and in response control the motorised drum unit to deploy the line and drogue for said engagement with the propellant supply line; and receive said return command signal and in response control the motorised drum unit to return the line and drogue to the host aircraft in said engagement with the propellant supply line for drawing the propellant supply line from the propellant supply aircraft to the host aircraft when the propellant supply aircraft is located behind the host aircraft.

A method for compensating for aerodynamic radial loads applied to a drogue coupling of a hose and drogue air to air active refueling system including: deploying a refueling hose from a tanker aircraft, wherein the drogue coupling is at a distal end of the hose and the drogue coupling is connected to a hose end control unit which includes at least three fins extending outward into air flowing over the hose end control unit; sensing acceleration of the hose end control unit and/or the drogue coupling, generating an acceleration signal with data representing the sensed acceleration; determining at least one deflection angle for at least one of the three fins based on the acceleration signal, and rotating at least one of the three fins by the at least one deflection angle.

A method for compensating for aerodynamic radial loads applied to a drogue coupling of a hose and drogue air to air active refueling system including: deploying a refueling hose from a tanker aircraft, wherein the drogue coupling is at a distal end of the hose and the drogue coupling is connected to a hose end control unit which includes at least three fins extending outward into air flowing over the hose end control unit; sensing acceleration of the hose end control unit and/or the drogue coupling, generating an acceleration signal with data representing the sensed acceleration; determining at least one deflection angle for at least one of the three fins based on the acceleration signal, and rotating at least one of the three fins by the at least one deflection angle.

A stabilizing system for a cable has a cable deployed and suspended from a helicopter, a cargo support attached at a deployed end of the cable, an end effector attached to the cable, the end effector comprising thrusters directed in a plurality of directions orthogonal to a vertical axis of the cable, first control circuitry in the helicopter, and second control circuitry in the end effector. Thrust of individual thrusters is controlled through the first and second control circuitry maintaining the axis of the cable vertical, damping swinging of the cable.

A stabilizing system for a cable has a cable deployed and suspended from a helicopter, a cargo support attached at a deployed end of the cable, an end effector attached to the cable, the end effector comprising thrusters directed in a plurality of directions orthogonal to a vertical axis of the cable, first control circuitry in the helicopter, and second control circuitry in the end effector. Thrust of individual thrusters is controlled through the first and second control circuitry maintaining the axis of the cable vertical, damping swinging of the cable.

A method of operating a supply aircraft for in-flight recharging comprises: transmitting a deploy command signal from a communication unit of the supply aircraft to a communication unit of a receiver aircraft, to cause a line and drogue to deploy from the receiver aircraft; controlling at least one of the supply aircraft and the drogue to engage the drogue with a first end of an electrical cable of the supply aircraft, a second end of the electrical cable being connected to the supply aircraft; and transmitting a return command signal from the communication unit of the supply aircraft to the communication unit of the receiver aircraft, to cause the line and drogue to return to the receiver aircraft with the first end of the electrical cable. The supply aircraft is located behind the receiver aircraft and the deploy command signal is for causing the line and drogue to deploy rearwardly of the receiver aircraft.

A method of operating a supply aircraft for in-flight recharging comprises: transmitting a deploy command signal from a communication unit of the supply aircraft to a communication unit of a receiver aircraft, to cause a line and drogue to deploy from the receiver aircraft; controlling at least one of the supply aircraft and the drogue to engage the drogue with a first end of an electrical cable of the supply aircraft, a second end of the electrical cable being connected to the supply aircraft; and transmitting a return command signal from the communication unit of the supply aircraft to the communication unit of the receiver aircraft, to cause the line and drogue to return to the receiver aircraft with the first end of the electrical cable. The supply aircraft is located behind the receiver aircraft and the deploy command signal is for causing the line and drogue to deploy rearwardly of the receiver aircraft.

Features for in-flight recovery of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). A towline may be deployed by a host aircraft in-flight in order to recover a target UAV that is also in-flight. A reel on the host aircraft may pay out the towline having a fitting thereon. A catch on the target UAV may engage with the fitting on the towline, and the reel may then retract the towline to thereby pull in the target UAV to the host aircraft. The target UAV may then securely attach with the host aircraft.